'Boston Boyze through the Bookmarket'

OSAA Blossman Judge's Award of Excellence

acrylic

18" x 24"

'Beaux's Boat - Tiger Shark'

pen, ink & wash

5" x 7"

'Heilan coos - Highland cattle'

pen, ink & wash

5" x 7"

'Fun on Ogle's swings - Thais & Eli at twilight'

pastel

11" x 14"



'Hosanna Gift Shop - Ireland'

acrylic, pen & ink

11" x 14"



'Clara Francesca'

oil and acrylic

11" x 14"

'Cotton Blossom in my New Day Garden'

acrylic

11' x 14'

'My kitchen - fruit of Volunteers' labour'

acrylic

11 x 14

'Up 'n' over the stile, our Pauline 'n' Tanya, Gunnerside, Yorkshire Dales'

acrylic

12 x 16

'Richmond, Swaledale, Yorkshire Dales'

acrylic

18 x 24

'Delicious Pears!'

acrylic

12 x 16

'Wave wonder for wee Victor'

acrylic

12 x 16

'A Grand day in Kinsale,Co Cork, Ireland with Calico Cat & Sunday paper'

acrylic

11 x 14

'Albert (Hitchcock!) and his 'garage' - 2 Hurricane Katrina survivors'

mixed media

20 x 24

"Albert my neighbour is a WW2 bomber pilot veteran. He survived that and Hurricane Katrina but the home he was born in was completely destroyed in the August 05 storm, however his 'garage' is still standing and I couldn't wait to paint it. The painting was finished (I thought) but just then Albert appeared, in his 'Hitchcock' way and he really completed the scene!" MP

Tea-time; 'Cup o' tea for you and me...or ?'

acrylic

12 x 12

"The paintings above and below are based on a wedding present of a tea service from my aunt to her wee sister Betty, my mother. It survived WW2 and Hurricane Katrina when everything round it was destroyed. Here's to us also survivors..."Have a cup o' tea dear!" "

'Pot o' tea for three and four or more!'

acrylic

12 x 12

'Pink Sheep, Ireland'

pastel

12 x 16

‘Bag Ladies’ MP & V
11”x 14”
Mixed Media

“We carry them everywhere, the bags… handbag, shoulder bag, carrier bag. Evacuating for Katrina was no different, the BAG carried the essentials – wallet, passport, library book and of course the Gin & Tonic!
V is a dear longtime friend who with her husband helped us immediately after Katrina - and yes, her full bag travels too.” MP

‘Bus Queue Scotland’
12” x 24”
Acrylic

‘Petunias blooming again,midst dead trees’
11” x 14”
Acrylic

‘Three Little Maids’
6” x 16”
Acrylic under glass

'"I'm flyin' - watch me" Thais'

Acrylic

'Trainin' Thinkin' dreamin'!'
Acrylic

‘Green Car ‘Sprouting up’ on Water St Biloxi, Ms’’
18” x 24”
Acrylic

'Tatties and Onions'
18" x 28"
Mixed Media

’Hot!’
7” x 12”
Acrylic under glass

‘A Home again? Wishin’ Hopin’ Prayin’!’
12” x 12”
Acrylic

’Lazy Days’
7” x 9”
Acrylic under glass

‘Summer in Scotland’
20” x 24”
Acrylic

’Sheila - Our wee Craigie’
9” x 12
Acrylic

'Southern Hospitality Monmouth Plantation Natchez MS'
Acrylic

‘”Where’s Mine?” Sam’
12” x 12”
Acrylic

‘The Kyles from Wemyss Bay Station’
20” x 24”
Acrylic

’Sheepish’
11” x 14”
Acrylic

‘After Katrina, what’s left?’
18”x 24’
Acrylic

“We had salvaged what we could from the debris that was our home and attempted to dry out any little piece that was found. On a scorching dazzlingly bright day, with our belongings strewn around a friends garden untouched by the storm, we really saw what was left of our past… very little, but we have our memories and each other.” MP

Home-made Donuts

16" x 20"

Acrylic

’Kangaroo Island, Oz’
11” x 14”
Acrylic

'Biloxi Vietnamese Shrimper'

9x12 Acrylic

This Vietnamese Shrimper & his wife survived Katrina and were living on their boat. We were pleased to see each other, he cleaning off his boat & selling shrimp, we anxious to buy the shrimp but with nothing & nowhere to cook them. We had all lost so much but were grateful survivors attempting to restore our lives - Immigrants, part of the diverse community that makes up East Biloxi, our home.

'Dormi, Dormi, Piccolo Amore'

Acrylic

This painting survived Katrina! Mother & baby bring hope and remind us of new life through suffering. Time to rest now, be nurtured & be loved

'Cat Cora Iron Chef '

Acrylic

Initially this was part of the 'Chef' series but when I talked to Cat who grew up in Jackson Ms there was much empathy as she had witnessed firdt-hand the awful devastation on the Ms Coast where she had spent much time after Katrina with Chefs for Humanity which she founded. A charming Southerner she continues to raise awareness and help for the Coast.

'So Many Choices!'

Acrylic

My 'Chef/Foodie' observations reminded me that life goes on but but also making me even more appreciative of the volunteers who donated their time to 'feed' us on the MS Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina

'Sunshine & Hope'

Acrylic

Sun is plentiful, but slowly we are returning to the enjoyment of our gulf coast beaches.

'Altha's Truck in the backyard after Katrina, Water St. East Biloxi Ms Gulf Coast'

Acrylic

Under the debris in the backyard, my neighbour Altha's truck came to light! And early one morning as the sun filtered through the felled trees onto it, I dragged out my easel anxious to capture the 'beauty' in the midst of chaos.

'Washed up on Water St. East Biloxi Ms Gulf Coast'

Acrylic

This wonderful old green car had 'sprouted up' after Katrina, in the middle of all the rubble in a neighbour's garden - well where a garden used to be. My daughter Claire captured it & I had to paint it.

'Don't Look Back 2 - Look to the Future'

Acrylic

I started painting this a good few months after Katrina on a Peggi Kroll-Roberts workshop and realised that this was what I was trying to do - not look back but look to the future. At this time I always appeared to be behind my subjects and following their gaze! Are my paintings telling me something and reminding me?

'FEMA 'ITCH' & 'Artist's SCREAM!' with apologies to Munch

Acrylic, pen & ink & pencil

1 set of 2 canvasses 12 x 16 each

It was a beautiful morning to paint, the first respite all summer from the heat and outside my FEMA trailer (eventually received in May 06) my canvas was ready on my easel.

Then SHE arrived all 'Attitude & Power' - the 'FEMA 'ITCH', clipboard in large heavy hand! Was this yet another inspection, another 'interrogation', another intrusion of privacy, another demand for ID, another report - what? The joy was gone, this first painting depicts that day -the numbers & dates on the back of the trailer are IDs and records of Her visits.

The 'SCREAM" expresses all - the 'eye' of the storm watching & waiting, the depression moving in, descending. On the rear of our 'home', the FEMA trailer, the numbers and dates of yet other inspections by other inspectors recorded - propane gas, 'black box', the warnings - sewage pipes with cobalt blue sealant wrongly connected, the red fill, the lost year, life now - the SCREAM.

The day turned to one of anger & frustration resulting in these more primative creations but perhaps they express how thousands of others also feel on the Gulf Coast a year after Katrina.

'Peace, Perfect Peace!'

Acrylic

This is what I really wanted to do the day of 'intrusion'!

ABOUT the ARTIST
Scottish-born artist Mary-Pat Forrest or MP as she is also known, now hails from Biloxi Mississippi.Work and travels have taken her to many parts of the world providing wonderful inspiration for her landscapes and figurative paintings.Though primarily self-taught, she took every opportunity to attend local art schools, colleges and workshops.

Love and study of the arts was nurtured at an early age in the cultural environment of her home-town Edinburgh, Scotland. Tho' the Old Masters and the Impressionists influence her style of work, over the years well-known American Artists have inspired and challenged her. Her work has been exhibited, commissioned and collected in the USA and abroad.

An accident prevented MP from working for several years but she is now experiencing her 'renaissance'. Despite losing her home, studio and all its contents in Hurricane Katrina, she continues to paint - made possible in part through generous donations from people around the USA and grants from Mississippi Arts Commission, Andy Warhol Foundation and Sweet Arts, New York.